Lubricating system for metal forming die

Claim 1

A double-action die for deforming a sheet metal blank and having a lubricating system operably mounted in a double-action press, said die including a base, a blankholder and punch; said die having an open position, an intermediate position and a strike position and being movable therebetween; said open position of said die for unloading a formed sheet metal part therefrom and loading said metal blank on said base, said intermediate position for securing said metal blank between said blankholder and said base, and said strike position for forming said metal blank between said punch and said base; a closed lubricating chamber for applying lubrication to said metal blank being formed at said intermediate position by said metal blank, said blankholder and said punch; said lubricating system including a plurality of nozzles positioned in said blankholder and movable therewith for applying lubricant to said metal blank in said closed lubricating chamber when said die is positioned at said intermediate position, said nozzles secured in said blankholder being movable between said open position and said intermediate position with said blankholder and being properly located relative to said metal blank by said blankholder for properly applying the lubricant to said metal blank, a source of lubricant under pressure, a piping system operably connecting said nozzles to said source of lubricant, and control means for releasing a predetermined amount of lubricant from said source to said nozzles for application of said metal blank when said die is in said intermediate position.